RaiseUp Massachusetts

About Us

State House Steps

Who We Are

Raise Up Massachusetts is a grassroots coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that works for all of us. An economy that invests in families, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed, and creates broadly shared prosperity.

We are united to ensure Massachusetts continues to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We reject efforts to divide our communities and scapegoat the most vulnerable among us. Whether motivated by our democratic values or our religious faith or both, we recognize that our fates are connected, we are one community, and we all do better when we all do better.

We work to pass laws, through the Legislature or at the ballot box, that support working families with jobs that pay a living wage and policies that allow them to balance work and family. To support important investments in our people and communities, we believe everyone should be asked to pay their fair share.

Our Story

In 2013, Raise Up Massachusetts was formed when coalitions that were working to raise the minimum wage and guarantee earned sick time for Massachusetts workers decided to join forces. Throughout 2013 and 2014, more than 150 organizations and hundreds of grassroots volunteers collected more than 350,000 signatures to put minimum wage and earned sick time on the ballot.

Governor Patrick Signs Minimum wage legislation, 2014.

In June 2014, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed legislation raising the minimum wage from $8 to $11 over three years, avoiding the need for a ballot question. Raise Up Massachusetts then led the campaign to ensure access to earned sick time for all workers in the Commonwealth by passing Question 4 in November 2014. After gaining support from over 250 community organizations, religious groups, labor unions, businesses, and civic leaders, Question 4 passed with a nineteen point margin of victory.

In 2015, Raise Up Massachusetts launched a campaign for the Fair Share Amendment, which would have amended the state’s constitution to invest in quality public schools, affordable higher education, and a transportation system that works by creating an additional tax of four percentage points on annual income above one million dollars. The Fair Share Amendment was supported by a large majority of Massachusetts voters in public polling, garnered over 150,000 signatures and passed through two consecutive constitutional conventions, but was challenged by a corporate-backed lawsuit and then thrown off the ballot by the state’s Supreme Judicial Court.

In 2017 and 2018, Raise Up collected more than 359,000 ballot signatures to create a paid family and medical leave program and raise the Massachusetts minimum wage to $15 an hour, resulting in the Legislature passing, and the Governor signing, legislation on both issues. The paid leave legislation passed by the Legislature is a historic victory for millions of Massachusetts workers who will be able to take job-protected paid time off from work to take care of themselves or a family member after a medical emergency or the birth or adoption of a new child. The $15 minimum wage legislation passed by the Legislature is a victory for the nearly one million Massachusetts workers who will see their paychecks go up as the minimum wage increases.

What’s Next

While Raise Up Massachusetts has helped make remarkable progress, the Massachusetts economy remains one of the most racially and economically unequal across the country. Decisions made nationally and at the state level are leaving workers behind and Raise Up Massachusetts will fight in the years ahead to build an economy that works for all of us.

We will continue to do this work until every worker in Massachusetts has a livable wage, family-supporting benefits, and a transportation and education system that lifts people up, funded by the wealthy paying their fair share. We’re not willing to wait to win the gains that Massachusetts workers need. We are only getting started.

Our Members

Raise Up Massachusetts is a grassroots coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that works for all of us. If your organization is interested in joining Raise Up Massachusetts, please contact info@raiseupma.org.